Area teams qualify plenty for cross country regional

The District 7-3A Cross Country Meet was held in Eastland, but it was dominated by Parker County teams.

The Brock boys and girls captured team titles, with the Millsap boys placing second. Also, Millsap's Buster Lee won the boys individual championship, followed by Peaster's Brice Hardin.

"I thought the kids really stepped up at the district meet. All the runners competed at a high level," said Brock coach Chance Westmoreland. "We set a goal to win all four divisions, and the kids worked hard to reach that goal. Hopefully we can carry the momentum to the regional meet."

Westmoreland was referring also to the junior varsity meets, which Brock also swept.

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At the varsity level, the top three teams and the top 10 individuals advanced to the Region I Meet Saturday (Oct. 29) at Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock. From there, the top four teams and top 10 individuals not on qualifying teams will advance to state in Round Rock Nov. 12.

Lee, a senior, clocked a time of 16 minutes, 47.7 seconds over the 5,000-meter course to win the boys individual title by more than half a minute. Hardin, a sophomore, was second in 17:25.4.

"We are very pleased and proud of our athletes and their performance.

We were faced with some unexpected difficulties where our number 2 and number 4 runners were unable to compete at the district meet," said Millsap coach Victor Pyle. "The team really pulled together and lived up to the chant we use so often, 'family.' They rose to the challenge."

Lee won for a sixth consecutive meet. Also for the Bulldogs, --- Colby O'Bannon placed fourth with a time of 18:21.4.

"This is the first time Millsap has reached this mark in many years. We are all so very excited to have this opportunity," Pyle said.

The Brock boys scored 40 points to 59 for Millsap. The Lady Eagles had a little closer contest, scoring 39 to 41 for Cisco.

The Lady Eagles also had four top-10 finishers, led by freshman Ashlynn Tutter in third with a 12:53.3 over 2 miles. Sophomores Kylee Laverty (13:09.8) and Lauren Wakefield (13:53.3) were sixth and ninth, respectively. Freshman Jessica Steele was 10th (13:42.2).

POOLVILLE BOYS EXTEND STREAK

The Poolville High School boys kept their streak going as they advanced to cross country regionals for a 15th straight season. The boys battled injury and adversity to place third in the District 11-2A Meet at Poolville.

Meanwhile, the Lady Monarchs also qualified for the Region II Meet as a team, finishing second in district.

For the Monarchs, senior Dylan Ranspot led the way finishing in ninth place with a time of 19:40 over 3.1 miles. The Lady Monarchs were led by senior Emery Lang, who was fifth with a time of 13:41 over 2 miles.

The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs will compete in the regional meet Saturday at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie.

ALEDO TWINS TAKE TITLES

Freshmen Gracie and Graydon Morris, competing in their first District 6-5A Meet, each brought home a league championship from White Settlement.

Gracie ran the 3.1-mile course in 18:47 and Graydon finished in 15:01. Both were also given the Newcomer Award as the top ninth-graders.

Senior Harrison Tillman finished in second place among the boys with a time of 16:00, and sophomore Avery Tilley medaled in sixth place with a 16:44. The boys team qualified for regionals as the runner-up to Northwest.

The 5A Region I Meet is Saturday in at Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock.

WEATHERFORD QUALIFIES TWO

The Weatherford Lady Kangaroos will have two runners competing in the Class 6A Region I Meet at Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock on Monday (Oct. 31). Freshman Sadie Tharp and sophomore Hanul Lewis qualified after finishing fourth and fifth at the District 3-6A Meet in Haltom City.

Tharp ran a time of 18:59.82 over 3.1 miles. Lewis clocked a 19:08.01.

As a team, the Lady Roos were fourth. The Weatherford boys were fifth.

"Extremely smart racers for a freshman and sophomore," said Weatherford coach Ty Comstock. "Highly competitive and gutsy. They ran against some of the top runners in the state in the district meet. They have their sights set on state."

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